Cheese-cutter.



PATENTED MAR. 14,1905.

F. P. DUNN.

CHEESE CUTTER. 1 APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1904.

Tim 1271,60 7- 1121/9 7, Dun/2v NITED STATES Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK P. DUNN, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO STIMPSON COMPUTING SCALE COMPANY, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, A (JOR- PORATION.

CHEESE-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,553, dated March 14, 1905.

' Application filed April 1, 1904. Serial No. 201,130.

To rm: 1071,0717. 7'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. DUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Andersen, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Imp rovem cuts in Cheese-Cutters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in cheese-cutters; and it consists in the construction of the device for rotating the cheese, combined with a series of movable weight-indicating plates which may be used to determine the amount of movement of the rotating mechanism for cheese of different weights, as more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved cheese-cutter, showing the knife cut away to more clearly illustrate the construction of the other parts. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal central section of Fig. 1 on line :0 :r. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional perspective view illustrating the pawl-box and its relation to the base-ring of the cheese-plate. Fig. A is a detached perspective view, partly broken away, of the holder for the weight-segments.

A is the base, which I have shown in the shape of a cast-iron ring having a rear extension B, on which are vertical brackets (J, supporting the arm D, carrying the knife E, provided with the operating-handle E.

Extending inward from the base A are a series of fingers F, on which is rotatably supported the ring G. This ring has on its outer face the ratchet-teeth or circular ratchet-barI-I.

I is a pawl-box having a sliding engagement with the ring G and carrying a series of spring-pawls J adapted to engage the ratchet bar H. This pawl-box and the pawls therein act as a clutch, sliding freely in one direction and adapted to engage with the ratchet'bar in the opposite direction.

Secured to the upper face of the ring G is the cheese-plate K, which is designed to support the cheese L.

M is an operating-lever which is fulcrumed on the pin M at the inner end of the link N,

side the base.

which at the other end is pivoted at N on the frame. This operating-lever extends underneath the cheese from side to side and extends out at one side, where it is provided with an operating-handle O. The opposite end of this operating-lever is pivotally secured to the pawl-box I. The lever passes through a slot P, formed in the ring-shaped baseA.

Q is a segmental box secured to the brackets Q, extending outward from the base above that portion of the lever M which extends out- In the opening or recess in the box-shaped segment Q are a series of segmental plates R, preferably having the apertures a at each end adapted to engage with the pins 5, projecting up from the bottom of the receptacle in the box Q. These segmental plates It are provided, preferably, on opposite faces with weight indications S, the markings upon the plates upon opposite sides thereof being difi'erent that is, they are all usually marked with a range of weights from ten to forty pounds; but the distances between the spaces vary upon dilferent plates and upon different sides thereof, according to the price at which the cheese is to be sold, the price of the cheese being marked upon the plates, as shown, adjacent to pin 1), Fig. I, whereI have shown the price marked at fifteen cents per 7 pound.

The parts being thus constructed, their operation is as follows: The operator first weighs the cheese, so as to know exactly how large a cheese he is selling and then places it upon the plate. He then selects one of the plates R which has upon its face the markings'for the price per pound at which he desires to sell the cheese. In this case I have shown the plate in use when the cheese is to be sold at fifteen cents per pound. He places this plate uppermost in the box Q and then moves the block T on the segmental box Q opposite the figure which indicates the weight of the cheese, as in this case I have shown it oppo:

site the weight 10, the setting in the illustration given being for a ten-pound cheese. The operator then moves the lever M to the right hand of its movement and forces the knife through the cheese to make a slit therein and then withdraws the knife. By rotating the lever M to the right until it strikes the block T the pawl boX or clutch engaging with the ratchet-bar on the ring G will rotate the cheeseplate and the cheese a short distance, according to the scale which is used, and will give a certain value or weight of cheese. For instance, I usually prefer to have a single reciprocation of the lever move the cheese forward five cents worth. For ten cents worth the operator makes a second reciprocation of the lever back and forth, and for fifteen cents he makes three movements of the lever.

When the desired rotation of the cheese has been accomplished, he lowers the knife and cuts off the sector of the cheese between the original cut and the new position which the cheese has reached in relation to the knife.

It is obvious that no adjustments are required with this device except to change the plates R according to the price at which the cheese is to be sold, and therefore the device is exceedingly simple. When once the block T is adjusted over to the weight of the cheese, the plates cannot be removed without moving the block, so that there is little danger of the plates being misplaced or tampered with.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a cheese-cutter, the combination of a rotary cheese-plate, a lever for rotating the plate, a clutch between the plate and the lever and a removable series of superimposed weight-indication plates arranged in a vertical series adjacent to the path of the handle of the lever, said plates having thereon scales of total cheese-weights at difi erent prices per pound.

2. In a cheese-cutter, the combination of a rotary cheese-plate, a lever for rotating the plate, a clutch between the plate and the lever, a box-shaped segment arranged adjacent to the handle of the lever and a series of independently-detachable graduated .plates in the receptacle. 7

3. In a cheese-cutter. the combination of a rotary cheese-plate, a lever for rotating the plate, a clutch between the plate and the lever, a segmental receptacle Q supported on the brackets Q adjacent to the path of the lever, detachable segmental plates R fitting in the receptacle and having thereon various graduations of total cheese-weights at different prices per pound, and an adjustable block T on the receptacle.

4. In a cheese-cutter, the combination of a cheese-plate, a lever for rotating the plate, a clutch between the plate and lever, a segmental receptacle arranged in the path of the lever, said receptacle comprising front, rear and side sections and being open at its top, segmental plates detachably fitting in the recep- I tacle and having thereon various graduations of total cheese-weights at different prices per pound.

5. In a cheese-cutter, the combination of a rotary cheese-plate, a lever for rotating the plate, a clutch between the plate and lever, a segmental receptacle arranged in the path of said lever, detachable segmental plates arranged within the receptacle and having thereon various graduations of total cheeseweights at different prices per pound, and means .at the respective ends of the receptacle for engaging the adjacent ends of the plates for retaining them in position therein.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK P. DUNN.

Witnesses:

J AS. '1. KNo LAND, MARTIN DUNN. 

